The North Korean claim was somewhat ironic, considering that Kim’s estranged half brother, Kim Jong Nam, was assassinated in February in Malaysia with a banned chemical weapon identified as VX nerve agent, according to Malaysian authorities.

The airport attack, blamed by the United States and Seoul on North Korean agents, has been cited by Washington in its efforts to persuade countries to minimize ties with North Korea.

Seoul has condemned North Korea for conducting its latest military exercise, which involved simulating a commando raid on South Korea’s presidential palace.

“After a series of contacts and payments, the agents told the North Korean man last month that the type of biochemical substance had been decided and would be supplied by the Central Intelligence Agency”.

This has been further proven by the fact that all attempts at negotiation with North Korea have always been met by fraud, threats and manipulation.

North Korea vowed to “mercilessly destroy” the terrorists, the BBC reported Friday morning.

Friday’s statement on state media was published days before South Korea’s May 9 election.

The hermit nation claimed that a North Korean citizen named “Kim” was bribed by the Central Intelligence Agency to carry out the assassination attempt on April 16, known as the Day of the Sun, the Telegraph reported. Yet although Fowle ultimately was freed after six months, at least two other Americans are reportedly being held by North Korea.

South Korea said the workers chose to resettle in the South on their own.

Asked about the possibility of US officials offering to engage in negotiations with North Korea over that rogue nation’s missile buildup, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer replied that for such talks to happen, Pyongyang would have to show signs of “good faith”. North Korea often uses colourful language and is no stranger to extravagant claims. Many detainees have said after their releases that they were coached or coerced on what to say.

The war of words between the West and the reclusive regime has spiked in recent weeks, and Pyongyang has threatened to carry out a sixth nuclear test that would further inflame tensions.

Another regular North Korea accusation: South Korea abducting or enticing the North’s citizens to defect.

“‘I can tell you this, and a lot of people don’t like when I say it, but he was a young man of 26 or 27 when he took over from his father, when his father died”.

The chemical attack was due to be carried out during a public parade.

For its part, South Korea has admitted to having plans in place to kill Kim. On Jan. 22, 2016, North Korea announced that Warmbier, originally from Cincinnati, had been arrested after committing an anti-state crime under “wartime law”.

The drill was particularly disturbing for South Koreans who remember a failed attempt by North Korean commandos in 1968 to assassinate then dictator Park Chung-hee, the father of Park Geun-hye.